Fortuna storage unit grows lead to raids at houses countywide

On 04-16-2014, at approximately 10:00 a.m., the Humboldt Drug Task Force assisted by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office served a Humboldt County Superior Court Search Warrant at the McKenny Industrial Warehouses, 100 Airport Rd in the unincorporated area Fortuna California. During the service of the warrant agents located Robert Weese, 27 years old, from Fortuna, tending to a commercial, for profit, marijuana grow containing 1547 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, from vegetative, to budding. Agents also located unpermitted and potentially dangerous wiring and a marijuana drying room. Weese was placed under arrest for cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale. He was transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. His bail was set at $25,000.00.

Agents then served search warrants on two additional units at the same location. Agents determined both units contained commercial, for profit, marijuana growing operations. Agents again located marijuana plants in various stages of growth, from vegetative, to budding. In the second one unit agents located and seized 558 growing marijuana and in the third unit agents located 726 growing marijuana plants.

On 04-17-2014, at approximately 9:00 a.m. agents and deputies returned to the McKenny Industrial Warehouses, at 100 Airport Rd, and served a search warrant on a fourth storage unit. Agents located and seized 1376 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, from vegetative, to budding.

Based off information obtained through the investigation surrounding the incident, agents served search warrants at several residences throughout Humboldt County. Those locations included the 2500 block of Dennis Ct in Fortuna, 2900 block of College Ave in Fortuna, the 1900 block of Scenic Drive in Fortuna, the 7200 block of Myrtle Avenue, Eureka, the 900 block of Hunts Drive, McKinleyville, and the 1800 block of Sutter Road, Fortuna. During the searches at the above listed locations officers' located and seized 25 pounds of dried marijuana, two firearms, hash, hash lab equipment, fiduciary records, indicia of ownership and responsibility.

The units at McKenny Industrial Warehouses, located at 100 Airport Rd are individually metered for PG&E, and plumbed for water. The Sheriff's Office has served warrants at this location in the last 12 months, and continually receives complaints from the public regarding the odor of marijuana emanating from the buildings. The Sheriff's Office would like to remind the public that it is a felony in the state of California to profit from the sales of marijuana.

The investigation is ongoing; however, agents have identified several additional suspects involved in the case, and will be seeking arrest warrants for those suspects.

Anyone with information for the Humboldt County Drug Task Force can call 707-444-8095. If you live in the City Limits of Eureka the Eureka Police Problem Oriented Policing Unit can be reached at 707-441-4373.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff's Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff's Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.